Jose Luis
The year is coming to an end and it is a good time to take a look at SAP 2026 trends. SAP transformation is no longer measured by the implementation of a new ERP version. By 2026, the real differentiator will be how organizations integrate processes, data, compliance and sustainability into a digital cloud core, capable of adapting to an increasingly demanding regulatory, operational and technological environment.
SAP is realigning its portfolio and its strategic narrative around a clear message: ERP is back at the center, but now as a living, connected, intelligent, and real-time business decision-oriented platform. SAP becomes a business transformation tool in which SAP ERP is only part of the answer.
In this context, these are the main trends that will set the SAP agenda in the coming years.
1. ERP is back to the core... but in the cloud, with proven market best practices and customization capabilities.
For years there was talk of “ERP as a commodity”. That era is over. SAP is repositioning S/4HANA Cloud as the core of business transformation , around which finance, supply chain, manufacturing, quality, product, environmental and compliance processes are connected.
The trend towards 2026 is clear,
- Core standardization through fit-to-standard approaches.
- Drastic reduction of Z developments in the core.
- Innovation transferred to extensions in SAP BTP.
Organizations that continue to replicate ECC logics in the cloud vs. S4/HANA (same customizations, same legacy processes) will not only lose speed, but also the ability to adopt new functionality on an ongoing basis. The ECC data model is not suited to AI.
Cloud ERP is no longer a “migration project” but a discipline of strategic, operational and tactical transformation.
2. SAP Cloud ERP as a basis for end-to-end processes
SAP is consolidating its Cloud ERP proposition as more than just accounting and logistics. The goal is to cover complete processes, from product design through production, distribution and corporate reporting to environmental and regulatory impact.
Looking ahead to 2026, they will gain weight:
- End-to-end traceability.
- Data consistency between traditionally disconnected areas.
- The entry of AI agent-assisted process management.
- The ability to adapt quickly to market requirements.
This means that areas such as quality, environment, occupational health, product compliance or sustainability can no longer live in isolated systems. Their information must be part of the main ERP flow.
3. Business AI in SAP. Less promises, more real automation
Artificial intelligence in SAP is evolving from conversational assistants to contextual automation within business processes. The vision is clear: AI integrated into ERP, not as an external layer, but as part of day-to-day operations.
By 2026 we will see:
- Automation of repetitive tasks in financial, logistics and compliance processes.
- Predictive analytics applied to operational risks, incidents, deviations and non-conformities.
- Real-time decision support based on reliable transactional data.
The key will not be in the technology, but in the quality of the master data and the maturity of the processes. Without consistent data on materials, substances, locations, products or assets, IA brings no real value.
4. Sustainability moves from corporate reporting to operational management.
One of the most relevant transformations for 2026 is the change of focus in sustainability, SAP SUS. It is no longer just about ESG reporting, but about managing environmental performance from day-to-day operations.
SAP is aligning its solutions so that metrics such as emissions, consumption, waste or spills:
- from actual operational data,
- are connected to production processes,
- and are auditable.
This represents a major cultural shift: sustainability is no longer a peripheral function and is integrated into planning, product design, operations and supply chain decisions.
5. SAP EHSM as an environmental performance system of record
In this new scenario, SAP EHSM reinforces its role as the reference system for environmental, health and safety management. The trend is clear: EHS data can no longer be captured manually or in isolation if new regulatory requirements are to be met.
Looking ahead to 2026:
- EHS is increasingly integrated with ERP and corporate sustainability solutions.
- The use of spreadsheets and parallel systems is reduced.
- Increased need for traceability and digital evidence for audits.
The focus shifts from “recording incidents” to preventing risks, analyzing trends and anticipating operational and regulatory impacts.
6. Product Compliance. More regulatory pressure, less margin for error
SAP PC product regulation continues to intensify globally. Regulations on substances, materials, labeling, safety and transparency are evolving faster than the ability of many organizations to adapt.
SAP is integrating Product Compliance capabilities more tightly with S/4HANA Cloud, reinforcing:
- substance data management,
- traceability of components,
- consistency between design, production and marketing.
By 2026, product compliance will be a critical business continuity factor, not just a legal issue. Lack of control can result in market blockages, penalties or loss of confidence.
7. Digital Product Passport and product transparency
The advancement of the Digital Product Passport (DPP), especially in the European context, points to a new era of mandatory transparency. Companies will have to be able to provide reliable information on the origin, composition, environmental impact and circularity of their products.
This will have a direct impact on:
- product master data management,
- collaboration with suppliers,
- and integration between engineering, compliance and ERP systems.
SAP Responsible Design and Production (RDP) is positioned as a platform to consolidate this information and make it accessible in a structured and secure way.
8. EPR, environmental taxes and responsible design
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations, plastic taxes and other regulatory mechanisms are directly influencing design and packaging decisions.
The trend towards 2026 is clear:
organizations will not just calculate rates, but will use that data to redesign products and packaging, optimize materials and reduce economic and environmental impact.
This reinforces the need to connect product, operations and compliance data within ERP.
Looking to 2026. Fewer projects, more capacities
The underlying message is strong: the future of SAP is not about implementing modules, but about building sustainable digital capabilities over time. Cloud ERP, EHS, Product Compliance, AI and sustainability are not separate initiatives; they are part of the same system.
Organizations that understand this convergence will be better prepared to:
- adapt to regulatory changes,
- scaling operations without losing control,
- and make decisions based on reliable data.
In 2026, the competitive advantage will not be in having SAP, but in using SAP as an integrated business, compliance and sustainability platform.
